SOCCER

Stampede battle to draw with Floridians F.C

Published: Sunday, June 15, 2014 at 10:47 p.m.

Last Modified: Sunday, June 15, 2014 at 10:47 p.m.

There were times on Sunday night when the Ocala Stampede looked sluggish, victimized by a wet field and heavy legs that come with playing for the second time in three days. Yet, there also were moments where it appeared the Stampede were about to win their fourth consecutive game, particularly in the final seven minutes when they created two quality scoring opportunities.

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But that's when Floridians F.C. goalkeeper Jeremy Crumpton was at his best, making a pair of brilliant diving stops on shots by Ocala's Paco Craig to allow his team to leave Trinity Catholic with a 0-0 score.

"Jeremy did a great job," said Stampede coach Cheyne Roberts, whose team had no shots in the first 29 minutes but 10 the rest of the way. "He made the saves when he needed to.

"He did his job."

After the tie, Ocala (3-1-2, 11 points) finds itself in second place in the Southern Conference's Southeast Division of the Premier Development League, just a point behind SW Florida Adrenaline (3-1-3), a team the Stampede is 1-0-1 against this season.

Roberts said he is happy with recent play which has seen Ocala go 3-0-1 since opening 0-1-1.

"We didn't put on a great performance (against Floridians F.C., 2-4-1)," Roberts said. "But we picked up four points this weekend (including a 4-2 win at Panama City Beach on Friday night), and at the end of the day, that's good.

"The season is still very young, and we have only one defeat in six games. That's great. We're in a nice place."

Now, the Stampede will prepare for the second of three consecutive home games, a meeting next Friday against third-place Orlando City U23 (2-1-2, eight points), the only team to beat Ocala this year. That 3-1 victory for Orlando City came May 21 at Lake Mary Preparatory School.

"We've got a big matchup with a rival coming up next," Roberts said. "That should be pretty exciting."

<p>There were times on Sunday night when the Ocala Stampede looked sluggish, victimized by a wet field and heavy legs that come with playing for the second time in three days. Yet, there also were moments where it appeared the Stampede were about to win their fourth consecutive game, particularly in the final seven minutes when they created two quality scoring opportunities.</p><p>But that's when Floridians F.C. goalkeeper Jeremy Crumpton was at his best, making a pair of brilliant diving stops on shots by Ocala's Paco Craig to allow his team to leave Trinity Catholic with a 0-0 score.</p><p>"Jeremy did a great job," said Stampede coach Cheyne Roberts, whose team had no shots in the first 29 minutes but 10 the rest of the way. "He made the saves when he needed to.</p><p>"He did his job."</p><p>After the tie, Ocala (3-1-2, 11 points) finds itself in second place in the Southern Conference's Southeast Division of the Premier Development League, just a point behind SW Florida Adrenaline (3-1-3), a team the Stampede is 1-0-1 against this season.</p><p>Roberts said he is happy with recent play which has seen Ocala go 3-0-1 since opening 0-1-1.</p><p>"We didn't put on a great performance (against Floridians F.C., 2-4-1)," Roberts said. "But we picked up four points this weekend (including a 4-2 win at Panama City Beach on Friday night), and at the end of the day, that's good.</p><p>"The season is still very young, and we have only one defeat in six games. That's great. We're in a nice place."</p><p>Now, the Stampede will prepare for the second of three consecutive home games, a meeting next Friday against third-place Orlando City U23 (2-1-2, eight points), the only team to beat Ocala this year. That 3-1 victory for Orlando City came May 21 at Lake Mary Preparatory School.</p><p>"We've got a big matchup with a rival coming up next," Roberts said. "That should be pretty exciting."</p>